Slice receiver for slicing machines



p l 1931- H. D. FITZPATRICK 1,801,599

SLICE RECEIVER FOR SLICING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 26,- 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1931- H. D. FITZPATRICK 1,801,599

SLICE RECEIVER FQR SLICING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 26.1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM Y Patented Apr. 21, 1931 F llTED STATES PATENT OFFHCE HUGH DONELLD FITZPATRICK, F GLiilSGGW', SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. SLICING MACHINE COMPANY, OF LA PORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA SLICE' RECEEVER Application filed September 2S, 1927, Serial No. 222,024.

This invention relates to means for receiving and assembling of slices as they are formed by machine for slicin meat and other material, and has for one or its objects the provision of such a device which shal be of improved construction and operation, which shall be simple and economical to manufacture, which shall require a minimum amount of power to operate, and which shall assemble the slices in a stack suitable for wrapping.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified in the coinbination and arrangement of parts shown 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 83 of Fig. 2.

The numeral 10 designates the frame of a slicing machine having the usual reciprocating table 11 mounted on a guide bar 12 and movable past a rotary slicing knife 13 for presenting material to the knife to be sliced. Projecting forwardly from the base 10 is a bracket 15 having a perforation 16therein for. holding bearing bushings 1'7 and .18 which are fixed in the perforation. A spider 19 is journaled on the upwardly projecting portion of the bushing 18 and a bracket 20 is secured to the spider 19 by screws 21 and is journaled on the downwardly projecting portion of the bushing 17. The bracket 15 is provided with a recess for receiving a ratchet wheel 22 interposed between the ends of the bushings 17 and 18. A spring detent 23 engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 22 to hold it against rotation SLICENG MACHINES Renewed March 9, 1929.

in one direction and a pawl 24 is carried by a sleeve 25 mounted in the bracket 20 and engages the ratchet wheel 22 to rotate the ratchet wheel when the spider 19 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in 2. A screw 26 extends through the openings in the bushings 17 and 18 and is provided with a flange 2'? at its lower end to limit upward movement of the screw. A ball 28 is carried in a sleeve 29 in the ratchet wheel 22 and engages the threads of the screw 26. The ball 28 is held in yielding contact with the threads of the screw 26 by spring 30. The spider 19 is connected to the reciprocating table 11 by means of a connecting rod 31 having one end pivoted to the spider at 32 and the opposite end carried by a downwardly projecting pivot pin 33 mounted on a bracket 34 secured to the end ofthe reciprocating table 11 by screws 35. It will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2 that reciprocation of the table 11 will be transmitted to the spider l9 which will reciprocate about the axis of the screw 26.

The edge of the spider 19 adjacent the machine frame is curved upon a radius equal to the distance from the axis of the screw 26 to the outer edge of an upwardly inclined arcuate plate 36 which extends upwardly and rearwardlyfrom the edge of the spider 19 to a position just below the edge of the reciprocating table 11. The outer edge of the plate 36 is curved about the axis of the screw 26 as acenter so that the radius of curvature of the plate 2-36 is uniform fr in the bottom to the top of the plate. The ends of the plate 36 are continued'lfo'rwardly in straight upright portions 37. The upper end of the screw 26 supports a horizontal plate 89 mounted to slide horizontally on the screw 26 and having its forward edge curved to fit within the contour of the plate 86. The side edges of the plate 39 are straight to it between the inner faces of the ends 87 of the plate '36. The shape of the plate 39 fitting within the plate 256 constrains the screw 26 to oscillate in unison with thespider 19. It will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 that when the table 11 moves toward the knife on a cutting stroke, the

spider 19 will be moved in a counter-clockwise direction and will carry the ratchet wheel 22 with it, the ratchet teeth moving idly over the detent 3. There will be no relative movement between the ratchet wheel and screw 26 at this time since they travel in unison with each other. During the return movement of the feed table and spider 19, however, the ratchet wheel 2 will he held against reverse rotation by the detent 23 and the pawl 2% will ride idly over the teeth of the ratchet wheel. This will cause the screw 26 to rotate in the ratchet wheel 22 and impart a downward. movement to the screw. \Vhen the scicw 26 reach its lowermost position, the ball 28 will register with a circumferential notch that further reciprocation of the pider 19 will not affect the vertical of the screw. The threads of the screw are rounded so that the ball 28 will yield when upward ton is exerted on the knob :41 at i ire top or L to return the plate 39 to its uppernn e to overcome the knob 41 with suflic 1 the resistance of the ball. 28

A slice deflector 42 ing the slices away from the knife 13. A slice support 54 is carried by a bracket adjacent the edge of the reciprocating table in position to support the projecting portion of the material which is severed b the knife 13 to form the slice. A slice re ng plate is mounted at the front edge of the plate 39 and is inclined forwardly and curved to conform to the curvature of the front edge of the plate 39. The side edges of the plate 60 are provided with laterally extending studs 61 which engage inclined slots 62 in the straight end portions 37 of the plate 36. The plate 39 is provided with a slot 63 which engages grooves 6st in the top portion of the screw 26. A supporting collar 65 is carried by the screw 26 beneath the plate 39. As the screw 26 is fed down vardly, the plates 39 and 60 will, of course, travel downwardly with the screw and will be directed forwardly by the inclined slots 62 and the inclined plate 36. As the slices are formed, they are deposited upon the upper surfaces of the receiving plate 60, as shown at 66, and after each slice has been deposited, the downward and forvsmro movement of the plate 60 will provide space for the next succeeding slice. The inclined plate 36 will support the lower edges of the slices and will counteract any tendency of the slices to move outwardly due to centrifugal force.

The pivot point 32 of the connecting rod 31 may be spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of the plate 36 so that the portion of the device upon which the slice is deposited will travel at a slightly greater rate of speed than the table 11. This over travel of the table will tend to straighten out the slices as they are deposited upon the supporting plate 60 or upon the stack of slices previously deposited upon the plate 60.

\Vhen it is desired to return the plate 60 to its uppermost position, it is only necessary to lift upwardly on the knob 41 and the plate 60 will be moved automatically to its initial position. The slots 62 will shift the plate 60 rearwardly toward the knife 13 as it is moved upwardly by the screw 26.

1. In a slicing machine, an upright slicing knife, an inclined slice receiver disposed adjacent the cutting edge of said knife, means for moving said l'UIClVGl' relative to the cutting edge of said. lniife to permit a slice to be spread upon the inclined receiving surface thereof it if formed by said knife, slice su port disposed adjacent the edge o said i civcr and inclined in the opposite dir ction to the vertical from the inclined t i l receiver, and means for moving receiver relative to Sti t. slice supper t accommodate additional slices as they are deposited upon said receiver.

2. In a slicin machine, a slicing knife having an up ht cutting plane, a slice support inclined downward y and laterally from the cutting plane of said knife, a slice receiver having its lower edge disposed adjacent said slice support, said receiver being inclined upwardly and laterally from said support, means for moving material pastthe cutting plane of said knife to cause slices to he severed therefrom, means for moving said receiver and support past the cutting plane of s id knife simultaneously with the movement of said material to permit slices to be spread upon said receiver, and means for periodically moving said receiver downwardly along the upper surface of said support to accommodate additional slices deposited on said receiver.

3. The combination. with an upright slicing knife, of a slice support mount. rotate about an upright axis p the cut edge of said knife, said support having 1 s upper edge curved about the axis of rotation thereof and having its upper surface inclined downvmrdly and laterally away from the cutting plane of said knife, and a slice receiver laving its lower edge (lisposed adjacent the upper surface of said support and curv d to conform to the curvatures of said support, and means for periodically feeding said receiver along the upper surface of said support away from the cutting plane of said knife to accommodate additional slices deposited on. said receiver.

4. in combination, an upright slicing knife, a slice support having an arcuate upper surface inclined downwardly away from the cutting plane of said knife, means for moving said support about an upright axis past the cutting edge of said knife, a slice receiver having an arcuate upper surface, means for constraining said receiver to move in unison with said support about said upright axis, and means for adjusting said receiver oownwardly and laterally along the surface of said support to accommodate additional sliees deposited on said receiver.

5. In a slicing machine, a slice support having an inclined upper curved supporting surface, a slice receiver having a curved outward edge disposed adjacent the concave surface of said support, and means for moving said receiver along the surface of said sup port to accommodate additional slices deposited on said receiver, said support being curved to conform to the curvature of the outer edge of said receiver throughout the range of movement of said receiver.

6. In a slicing machine, a slicing knife having an upright cutting plane, a slice support having a curved upper surface inclined outwardly and downwardly away from said cutting plane and having its upper edge disposed adjacent said cutting plane, the radius of curvature of said support being substantially uniform for different portions of said support, a slice receiver having its lower edge disposed adjacent the upper surface of said support, said receiver being inclined outwardly and upwardly away from the cutting plane of said slicing knife, the lower edge of said receiver being curved to conform to the curvature of said slice support, and means for feeding said receiver clownwardly and outwardly along the upper surface of said support to accommodate additional slices as they are severed by said knife.

7. The combination with a slicing knife having an upright cutting plane, of a slice support having a downwardly and outwardly inclined upper surface of substantially uniform radius of curvature and having spaced upright portions at opposite ends of the curved portion of said support, a slice receiver having an upwardly and outwardly inclined curved receiving surface of substantially uniform radius of curvature conforming to the radius of curvature of said slice support, means for oscillating said support and receiver about a common upright axis, means for periodically feeding said receiver downwardly to accommodate additional slices deposited thereon, and means for causing said receiver to move outwardly along the surface of said support when said receiver is fed downwardly.

8. In a slicing machine, an upright feed screw, a slice receiver having an inclined curved receiving surface carried by said feed screw and having sliding engagement therewith so as to enable said receiver to slide horizontally thereon, means for periodically actuating said feed screw to move saidr'eceiverdownwardly, and means for imparting horizontal movement to said receiver when said receiver is fed downwardly by said feed screw.

9. In a slicing machine, a slicing knife having an upright cutting plane, a slice support having its upper surface inclined down and conforming thereto, the parallel upright end portions of said support being provided with inclined guide slots, lugs on said receiver disposed within said guide slots to constrain said receiver to move laterally when downward movement is imparted thereto, and a feed screw for moving said receiver downwardly to accommodate addi tional slices deposited thereon.

10. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife having an upright cutting plane, a work support mounted to reciprocate past the cutting edge of said knife to sever slices from material on said support, an upright feed screw spaced forwardly from the cutting plane of said knife, a slice receiver mounted to slide horizontally on said feed screw and having a curved inclined upper slice receiving surface, a deflector for directing slices onto said surface as they are severed by said knife, a downwardly and forwardly inclined slice support disposed adj acent the lower edge of said receiver for sup porting the lower edges of slices deposited on said receiver and for holding said slices against centrifugal action, means for moving said receiver and support past the cutting edge of said knife simultaneously with the movement of said work support, means for moving said feed screw downwardly, and a guide for directing saidreceiver forwardly when said receiver is moved downwardly by said feed screw.

11. In combination, a slicing knife, a work support adapted to reciprocate past the slicing knife so that a substance supported thereon will have slices cut therefrom, an oscillating slice receiver adjacent the work support adapted to receive the slices as they are cut by the knife, said slice receiver having a pair of downwardly sloping slice supporting surfaces adjustable relatively to each other, and a ribbed deflector for deflecting the slices onto said slice supporting surfaces.

12. A slicing machine comprising an adjustable oscillating slice receiver having aplurality of members having supporting surfaces sloping downwardly toward each other, one of said supporting surfaces being 5 ad'ustable relative to the other.

11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 9th day of September, A. D. 1927.

HUGH DONALD FITZPATRICK. 

